Papillon  

By Tom Keogh

Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton) directs this true story of Henri Charriere (better known as "Papillon" or "the butterfly"), a prisoner so determined to escape the notorious Devil's Island, he attempted it multiple times until he reached old age. Steve McQueen plays Charriere, and Dustin Hoffman is very good as the hero's anxious, defenseless friend. Based on Charriere's own memoir and uncompromisingly adapted by screenwriters Dalton Trumbo (Johnny Got His Gun) and Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Three Days of the Condor), the film is tough going (it is set, after all, on Devil's Island) but not gratuitously violent. There are sequences that stay with one for a long time, such as Papillon's brief stay at a leper colony and the long periods of starvation and solitary confinement he endures after each attempted flight.

Academy Awards

Papillon received an Academy Awards nomination for Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Dramatic Score; Jerry Goldsmith).

Share Your Memories!

Is Papillon one of your favorite movies? What do you remember about it? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)

		Your Memories Shared!

"Steve McQueen is superb in Papillion. He should have been not only nominated for best actor, but should have WON the best actor Oscar for his performance in this great epic movie. Dustin Hoffman was excellent also in this movie. I've seen it many times (lost track) and it is still one of the best ever." --Foxman